A BATTLING pensioner was celebrating last night after his one-man protest helped save a tree and nesting birds.

Bill Moran pleaded with Environment Agency Wales to spare a tree close to a river dipper's nest.

Mr Moran claimed felling the tree at the bottom of his garden in Bontuchel, just outside Ruthin, would have illegally disturbed the nesting birds.

Yesterday EA chiefs said they had rethought their decision.

A spokesman said: "We had planned to remove the tree after our conservation officers had assessed the site and confirmed that the dippers

would not be affected. "However as Mr Moran is now keen to see the tree retained we have decided not to fell the tree at present. "We will now be assessing the stability of the tree each year as part of our routine fish pass inspections."